STARTUPS.CH PLC, Lagerhausstrasse 18, 8400 Winterthur, is the operator of the website www.startups.ch and the provider of services offered thereon. Hence, STARTUPS.CH PLC is responsible for the collection, processing and use of your data and has to ensure compliance with Swiss law. Protecting your personal data is a huge priority to STARTUPS.CH PLC. Here you will find information on what kind of data is collected and used on www.startups.ch. You will also learn how you can verify the correctness of such data and have it deleted by us. Please note that this privacy statement may be changed from time to time. Therefore, we recommend reading this Privacy Statement on a regular basis to make sure that the most recent version is always known to you.

2. Collection, Use and Processing of Personal and Corporate Data

Whenever you visit www.startups.ch, certain data is automatically stored, either for system administration or for statistical, security or tracking purposes, on our servers and those of the providers of the services and products we subscribe and/or have installed. This data includes:

In some circumstances such data can be used to infer information on certain visitors. No personal data is used in this context, however.

By signing up as a www.startups.ch user and entering your data, you agree that your data will be used for service-related purposes.

Furthermore, you agree that your data can be used for third-party advertising efforts/purposes. If you do not want your data to be used for advertising purposes, you can at any time forbid it by sending us your request by e-mail to info@startups.ch.

3. Data Disclosure

Insofar as it may be necessary for order processing, your data will be shared with our partners (third parties). If your data is shared with external service providers, technical and organisational measures will be taken to make sure that such data sharing is compliant with applicable data protection laws. If you provide us with any personal or corporate data on your own, we will not use, process or disclose such data beyond the extent permitted by law or your consent. In addition, we will share your data with external service providers only if this is necessary for order processing and such partners have agreed to comply with applicable confidentiality and due diligence regulations. Furthermore, we will disclose your data only if obliged to do so under applicable laws or so ordered by an administrative or judicial authority.

4. Inquiry, Deletion and Correction

You can at any time request information on what of your data we store. For this purpose, please e-mail us at the following address. Please also attach and send your proof of identity to the same address.

You can at any time request that your data be deleted or corrected. Of course, you are also entitled to withdraw at any time your declared consent to the future use or processing of your personal data. For this purpose, please e-mail us at info@startups.ch.

We delete the stored data as soon as it is not used for the specified purposes any more.

As far as data deletion is concerned, please note that we are subject to some legal obligations whereby certain data is required to be stored for a specific period of time. We have to comply with these obligations. If you wish that we delete any of your data that is required by law to be stored, we will block such data and use it only to meet our legal obligation to store the same. Once the legal storage period is reached, we will delete your data as requested.

5 .Data Security

We will keep your data safe and therefore take all appropriate measures to protect it against loss, unauthorised access, abuse or any changes whatsoever. Our staff members and business partners who may have access to your data will be contractually obliged to keep such data confidential and comply with applicable data protection laws. In some cases we will need to forward your requests to our affiliates. Also in these cases your data will be handled with confidentiality.

6. Cookies

To help you experience our website www.startups.ch, we use so-called cookies. Cookies are small pieces of information needed for the use of our website www.startups.ch that your browser stores on the hard disk of your computer. The information contained in the cookies help us control your visiting session, in particular in order to improve your navigation and make our website highly user-friendly. The cookies we use do not record any personal information whatsoever. In most web browsers cookies are accepted automatically. You can prevent it by configuring your browser. You can at any time delete cookies stored on your computer by clearing the temporary Internet data (Tools/Internet Options bar).

If you disable the cookies, you may be unable to use all the functionalities of our portal.

Our website integrates plugins of the social network Facebook, 1601 South California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. You will recognise them on our website by the Facebook logo or the Like or Share buttons. An overview of Facebook plugins can be found here: http://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/. Whenever you visit our site, the plugin creates a direct connection between your browser and a Facebook server. The contents of the plugin are sent by Facebook directly to your browser and are integrated into the website. Thus Facebook receives the information that you have visited our website with your IP address, even if you have no Facebook account or you are not currently logged into Facebook. Such information (including your IP address) is sent by your browser directly to a Facebook server in the USA, where it will be stored. If you click Facebook’s Like button when you are logged into your Facebook account, you can embed in your Facebook profile a link to the contents of our website. Then Facebook can associate your visit to our website with your user account. Details of your interaction will also be sent directly to a Facebook server, where they will be stored. In addition, they will be published on Facebook and shown to your Facebook friends. Please note that, as a website provider, we do not know which data is transferred and how it is going to be used by Facebook.

Such information can be used by Facebook for advertising, market research and Facebook customisation purposes. To that end, Facebook creates usage, interest and relationship profiles, e.g. in order to analyse how you use our website with regard to ads shown to you by Facebook, inform other Facebook users about your activities on our website and provide you with other Facebook-related services.

If you do not want Facebook to associate your visit to our website with your Facebook user account, please log off your Facebook user account before visiting our website.

7.2. Twitter

Our website integrates plugins of the short message network Twitter Inc., 795 Folsom St., Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA. You will recognise them (the Tweet button) on our website by the Twitter logo. An overview of Twitter buttons can be found here https://dev.twitter.com/.

Whenever you request a page of our website that contains such a plugin, a direct connection is created between your browser and a Twitter server in the USA. Thus Twitter receives the information that you have visited our website with your IP address. If you click the Tweet button when you are logged into your Twitter account, you can embed in your Twitter profile a link to the contents of our website. Then Twitter can associate your visit to our website with your user account. Please note that, as a website provider, we do not know which data is transferred and how it is going to be used by Twitter. More information in this respect can be found in Twitter’s Privacy Statement.

If you do not want Facebook to associate your visit to our website, please log off your Twitter user account.

7.3. LinkedIn

Our website integrates plugins of the social network LinkedIn owned by LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (hereinafter ‘LinkedIn’). You will recognise the LinkedIn plugins on our website by the LinkedIn logo or the Recommend button. Whenever you visit our website, the plugin will create a direct direction between your browser and a LinkedIn server. Thus LinkedIn receives the information that you have visited our website with your IP address. If you click LinkedIn’s Recommend button when you are logged into your LinkedIn account, you can embed in your LinkedIn profile a link to the contents of our website. Then LinkedIn can associate your visit to our website with your user account. Please note that, as a website provider, we do not know which data is transferred and how it is going to be used by LinkedIn. Details regarding data collection (purpose, scope, further processing, use) and your rights and possible settings can be found in LinkedIn’s Privacy Guide.

Our website contains at least one YouTube plugin owned by Google Inc. LLC, 901 Cherry Ave. San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. Whenever you visit a page of our website that is provided with a YouTube plugin, a connection with YouTube servers is created. Then the YouTube server learns which page of our website you have visited. If you are also logged into your YouTube account, you make it possible for YouTube to associate your browsing behaviour with your personal profile. You can prevent this if you first log off your account. More information on how YouTube may collect and use your data can be found in YouTube’s Privacy Guide, which is available from http://www.youtube.com/t/privacy.

7.5. Tumblr

This website uses Tumblr plugins. These buttons are offered by Tumblr, Inc., 35 East 21st St, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10010, USA. It is recognisable by the Tumblr term. The buttons make it possible to share a post or page of this service with Tumblr or follow the service provider on Tumblr.

Whenever you visit a page of this website that contains such a button, your browser creates a direct connection to Tumblr servers. The contents of the Tumblr buttons are sent directly to the user’s browser. Therefore, the service provider has no influence on how the data collected by Tumblr using this plugin is handled and informs the user accordingly. Afterwards only the user’s IP address and the website’s URL are identified when the button is clicked, but only in order to display the button

Where applicable, this website uses Google AdSense, a service used to incorporate Google Inc. (‘Google’) ads. Google AdSense uses so-called ‘cookies’, text files stored on the user’s computer to help analyse how the website is used. Google AdSense also uses so-called web beacons (invisible graphics). Such web beacons make it possible to analyse information such as traffic across pages of this website.

Generated by cookies and web beacons, information on how this website is used (including the user’s IP address) and what ads have been displayed is sent to a Google server in the USA, where it will be stored. Such information can be forwarded by Google to its business partners. However, Google will not merge your IP address with your other data it may store.

You can disable the installation of cookies by making appropriate settings in your browser. Please note, however, that in such an event you may not be able to fully use all the functionalities of this service. By using this website, you agree to Google processing the data it collects about you in the way and using the methods described above and for the purposes specified above.

7.7. Pinterest

Our website uses the service pinterest.com, which is owned by Pinterest, Inc., 808 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA. By displaying the Pin it button on our website, Pinterest is informed that you have visited a page of our website. If you are logged into Pinterest, Pinterest can associate your visit to our site with your Pinterest account and thus associate the data. The data sent by clicking the Pin it button can be stored by Pinterest. More information on the purpose and scope of data collection, processing and use, your rights in this respect and the available settings you can make to protect your privacy can be found in Pinterest’s Privacy Guide that you can download from http://pinterest.com/about/privacy/.

To prevent Pinterest from associating your visit to our website with your Pinterest account, you have to log off your Pinterest account before you visit our website.

7.8. Google+

Our website uses so-called social plugins (‘plugins’) of the social network Google+, which is operated by Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (‘Google’). The plugins are recognisable e.g. by the +1 sign on a white or colour background. An overview of Google plugins and their representations can be found on: https://developers.google.com/+/plugins.

Whenever you visit a page of our website that contains such a plugin, your browser creates a direct connection to Google servers. The contents of the plugin are transmitted by Google directly to your browser and incorporated into the page. Thus Google receives the information that your browser has accessed a specific page of our website, even if you have no Google+ profile or you are not currently logged into Google+. Such information (including your IP address) is sent by your browser directly to a Google server in the USA, where it will be stored.

If you are logged into Google+, Google can associate your visit to our website directly with your Google+ profile. If you interact with the plugins, e.g. you click the +1 button, the relevant information will also be sent directly to a Google server, where it will be stored. In addition, the information will be published on Google+ and shown to your contacts there.

More information on the purpose and scope of data collection, processing and use, your rights in this respect and the available settings you can make to protect your privacy can be found in Google’s Privacy Guide on: http://www.google.com/intl/de/+/policy/+1button.html.

To prevent Google from associating your visit to our website with your Google+ profile, you have to log off Google+ before you visit our website. You can also completely disable your browser’s add-ons that load Google plugins, e.g. by using the script blocker NoScript (http://noscript.net/).

7.9. Instagram

Our website uses Instagram’s so-called social plugins, which hare operated by Instagram LLC., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA ("Instagram"). The plugins are identified with an Instagram logo, e.g. in the form of an Instagram camera. An overview of Instagram plugins and their representations can be found here: http://blog.instagram.com/post/36222022872/introducing-instagram-badges.

Whenever you request a page of our website that contains such a plugin, your browser creates a direct connection to Instagram servers. The contents of the plugin are sent by Instagram directly to your browser and incorporated into the page. Thus Instagram receives the information that that your browser has accessed a specific page of our website, even if you have no Instagram profile or you are not currently logged into Instagram. Such information (including your IP address) is sent by your browser directly to an Instagram server in the USA, where it will be stored.

If you are logged into Instagram, Instagram can associate your visit to our website directly with your Instagram account. If you interact with the plugins, e.g. you click the Instagram button, the relevant information will also be sent directly to an Instagram server, where it will be stored. In addition, the information will be published on your Instagram account and shown to your contacts there.

More information on the purpose and scope of data collection, processing and use by Instagram your rights in this respect and the available settings you can make to protect your privacy can be found in Instagram’s Privacy Guide: https://help.instagram.com/155833707900388/.

If you do not want Instagram to associate your visit to our website with your Instagram account, you have to log off Instagram before you visit our website. You can also completely disable your browser’s add-ons that load Instagram plugins, e.g. by using the script blocker NoScript (http://noscript.net/).

7.10. Google Adwords

Our website uses Google conversion tracking. If you get to www.startups.ch via an ad provided by Google, Google Adwords will place a cookie on your computer. Such cookies expire after a predefined period of time and do not serve personal identification. If you visit certain sites of our website once again and the cookie has not expired yet, Google and we can make out that you have clicked an ad that have redirected you further on. Cookies vary depending on the customer, each one receives his or her own. A conversion cookie makes it possible for us to learn how many users in total have clicked an ad and been redirected to a given page. However, we receive no personal data that might identify you as a user.

If you do not want any tracking, you can place a Do Not Track cookie or set your browser so as to disable all cookies coming from the googleleadservices.com domain.

7.11. Facebook Remarketing

Our website integrates remarketing tags of the social network Facebook, 1601 South California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. Whenever you visit our website, a direct connection between your browser and a Facebook server is created via remarketing tags. Thus Facebook receives the information that you have visited our website with your IP address. Then Facebook can associate your visit to our website with your user account. We can use the so received information to display Facebook ads. Please note that, as a website provider, we do not know which data is transferred and how it is going to be used by Facebook. More information in this respect can be found in Facebook’s Privacy Statement on https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/. If you do not want any of your data to be recorded via Custom Audience, you can disable this function.

7.12. Google Remarketing

Our website integrates remarketing tags from Google Inc. („Google“). Whenever you visit our website, a remarketing tag creates a direct connection between your browser and Google. Then we receive the information that our website has been accessed by your IP address via Google. We can use such information for specific advertising.

7.13. Google Tag Manager

Our website uses Google Tag Manager. This service makes it possible to manage website tags across an area. Google Tag Manager implements tags only. This means that no cookies are used and no personal data is collected. Google Tag Manager launches other tags that may collect data, but Google Tag Manager has no access to such data. If it is disabled at domain or cookie level, all tracking tags also remain disabled provided that they have been implemented using Google Tag Manager.

7.14. MailChimp

When you sign up for the newsletter, you disclose your e-mail address and can optionally enter your name. In addition, your IP address and registration date are also stored when you sign up, the latter only the purpose of providing evidence in case of abusive registration. To send our newsletter, we use the mailing list provider MailChimp. MailChimp is a service provided by The Rocket Science Group, LLC, 512 Means Street, Suite 404, Atlanta, GA 30318 (‘Rocket’). The data recorded during the registration is encrypted and sent in encrypted form to Rocket, where it will be stored. Once you have signed up, MailChimp sends you an e-mail to confirm your registration. Furthermore, MailChimp offers various possibilities of analysing how the newsletters we sent are opened and used, e.g. to how many users an e-mail has been sent, if any e-mail was rejected and if users signed off the mailing list once they had received an e-mail. However, such analysis is done for groups only and is not used for individuals. In addition, MailChimp uses the analysis tool Google Analytics provided by Google, Inc and, where applicable, incorporates it into newsletters. More information on privacy at MailChimp on www.mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/.

7.15. Live Chat Tools

This website uses Live Chat Tool for offered live chats. The tool allows us to manage chats. The chat functionality is integrated into the source text on this website using a script. Whenever you use this functionality, you automatically use the Live Chats service. The following data is transmitted and stored there: chat record, name entered, IP address during the chat and country of origin. This data is stored on Live Chat and not disclosed to any third party whatsoever.

The contents of your chat are visible to everyone on this website and stored here. Live Chat is operated by Wordpress, and if you would like to record any contents thereof, you need to have a Wordpress login. More information can be found here https://wordpress.org/about/privacy/.

7.16. Crazy Egg Tool

Our website uses the tracking tool CrazyEgg.com to record randomly selected visits (with anonymised IP addresses only). This tracking tool makes it possible to analyse, using cookies, how someone has used our website (e.g. which contents have been clicked on). For this purpose, a usage profile is shown. None of your personal data is collected, processed or used when you use this tool. The usage profiles are created pseudonymously only. You have the possibility to disable anonymous tracking by CrazyEgg. The relevant instructions can be found on http://www.crazyegg.com/opt-outfolgen.

7.17. SumoMe

This website uses SumoMe, an online marketing tool from Sumo Group Inc., 1305 E. 6th St 3, Austin, TX 78702, USA. Among other things, it records mouse movements and clicks to show us how individual web pages can be improved. In addition, information on the operating system, browser, incoming and outgoing links, geographical origin as well as resolution and type of device is used for statistical purposes. If you do not want such information to be recorded, you can disable this functionality on all the web pages that use SUMOME by setting a DoNotTrack header in your browser. More information in this respect can be found on https://help.sumome.com/customer/portal/articles/1963436-privacy-policy.

7.18 Online Appointment Booking

Whenever you book any appointment on this website, your data is transferred to the provider of the external booking system, which sends the data recorded during your booking to the booking service provider YouCanBookMe Limited 38 Mill Street, Bedford, MK40 3HD, United Kingdom. More information can be found on https://www.youcanbook.me/privacy/.

7.19. Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analysis service from Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (‘Google’). Google Analytics uses so-called ‘cookies’, text files stored on the your computer to help analyse how you use the website. The information created by the cookie (browser type/release, operating system, referrer URL, previously visited websites, IP address, server request time) concerning the usage of this website is usually sent to a Google server in the USA, where it will be stored. However, if you enable IP anonymisation on our website, Google, in Member States of the European Union or any other states being party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, will first truncate your IP address.

Only in exceptional cases, the full IP address will be sent to a Google server in the USA and truncated there. Google will use this information to analyse your usage of the website, generate website activity reports for website operators and provide other services related to the use of the website and the Internet. Google may also disclose such information to third parties provided that it is required to do so by applicable laws or it has outsourced data processing to a third party. The IP address sent by your browser under Google Analytics will not be merged with any other data already in Google’s possession.

You can prevent the installation of cookies by setting your browser accordingly. Please note, however, that in such an event you may not be able to fully use all the functionalities of this website. By using this website, you agree to Google processing the data it collects about you in the way and using the methods described above and for the purposes specified above. More information on the web analysis service used can be found on Google Analytics website. The instructions on how you can prevent your data from being processed by the web analysis service can be found on http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

8. Changes

Any changes to this Privacy Statement will be published on this website. Thus, you will always be able to learn which data we store and how we collect and use it. Here you can save and/or print out the provisions of the Privacy Statement.